Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors are coming to visit one of their "favorite music towns" on April 5 -- the Classic City. This will be the first time in six years that they have performed at the Georgia Theatre.
As a result, we caught up with Drew Holcomb, lead singer and songwriter, to ask about music, life, the South, and the struggles of growing up.
Here's what we learned:
Danielle Weiner: So, hey, I’ve got to ask, is this your first time in Athens?Drew Holcomb: No, we’ve played the 40Watt about six times over the years. Last time we played it was a sold out show, and this time will be our first time at the Georgia Theatre.
What is your favorite thing about Athens? Is there anything special you plan to do while you are here?
Oh, yeah. We totally have our regular spots. We love going to Broad Street -- what’s that really cool store with all those antiques? I can’t remember what it’s called, but we love snooping around. Not to mention all the great types of food. We’ve been to Transmet several times over the past couple of years. Athens is one of those towns where you try to get in early enough to explore, enjoy the downtown, the weather, the general feel of it all. It is hands down one of our favorite music towns.
You started playing when you were 21. Obviously we are all very different from that stage of our lives until now. How has your perspective on life changed since then?
You know, I think more than anything, the greatest thing about growing up was getting married and having a career for 10 years. Everything when you’re younger seems really rushed, a year when you're 21 seems like an eternity, when you’re 30 it’s about a month. Instead of trying to beat the clock you learn to enjoy life more. Your perspective, empathy, and point of view -- all of it grows. There’s just a healthier sense of identity with oneself as you get more mature and comfortable.
Hearing you say that makes me feel so much better. It’s good that we all figure it out one day.
You can’t force experience, you have to let it happen to you.
What was is it like to perform with your wife? Do you remember when you two first performed together?
YES! We were in college, at Knoxville. I was a senior, she was a junior, and it was a BBQ joint (downtown Knoxville) called Lucilles. It’s closed now. But anyways, we were just hanging out with a bunch of our friends, and she just came up and performed a bunch of songs with me.
AWW!!!!! Well, obviously that turned out well for you considering you’ve been happily married for some years. I know you recently had a kid (well not recently, but you get the idea) how do you balance a rock star lifestyle and being super dad?You know, to get into music for a living was a total joy, but it really pales in comparison to being a dad. Emmylou loves music, she loves to dance. She actually went on the road with us for a year. Elle spends more time at home than on the road these days with her. When you’re a dad, the perspective thing changes a lot. Your career is important, but it’s not the most important thing. Being with the ones you love is. What I love most though with Emmylou is that everything is always new. Elle and I just love being her agents of discovery.
If you could collaborate with anyone (besides your wifey and the band), who would it be?
I would love to write a song with Bruce Springsteen. He’s one of my favorite songwriters and storytellers. If I could just sit in a room with him with two guitars, talk music and pop a beer -- I would totally enjoy that. Just sitting in his company and talking about what he does and why he does it would be amazing.
What’s your playlist like when you’re driving from concert to concert?
We listen to a lot of Wilco, Jason Isbell, Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers, Carole King, Need to Breathe, Dillion – honestly, everyone in the band has a ton of different tastes! Our bass player loves old 70s soul records, and our tour manager loves big epic stuff like Arcade Fire.
What has been the biggest struggle you as a band have faced so far?
The economics of a musician’s life is a struggle, realizing that you have to tour to pay your bills, finding the balance of making a living and making your priorities your RIGHT priorities. As far as issues go, we haven’t had a lot as a band. We wake up in the morning with a positive perspective and realize that we’re living the dream a lot of people wish that they could be living.
What is your favorite memory from touring?
Honestly, there’s no way to describe how it feels the first time you play a sold out show and you see everyone around you singing your songs. Austin Texas, December 2010 – it was in that moment I realized I might be able to do this for a long time.
Do you think folk music is making a revival into mainstream pop? Why do you think that is? Does it have to do with our generation?
Folk music never really faded out per se. It’s always been underground with its niche communities. It faded out of pop culture for a bit, but it’s always been a thing. The resurgence had to do with something and someone looking for something real and authentic. You can’t be a real musician playing real instruments on stage with electronic and pop music.
What was your favorite part about undergrad back when you were in school?
Probably going to see shows. When I was an undergrad, I went to shows all the time. Being exposed to live music in Knoxville, road trips, seeing Ryan Adams, Damien Rice, and the Watson Twins. Tons and tons of bands. I even saw U2 when I studied abroad in Ireland for a semester. I loved how there were so many options.
What advice would you give to struggling college students hoping to succeed?
It’s not about what you major in or what you’re studying; it’s about learning how to learn and finish things. In the real world, what you study won’t matter that much. It’s a matter of learning to finish what you start. For example, when I told my dad I wanted to be a musician, he said “I’ll be at your corner” and from there on out I began to try to pursue my dreams.
What are your plans for the future? Is there another album or tour in the works?
Yeah, there’s a couple things. We started touring over in Europe in October. We’re going all over Scandinavia, and we are actually putting on our own music festival this summer. It’s called Moon River Music Festival. (For anyone wanting to go, it’s June 7th in Levitt Shell Memphis!) Later this summer we are coming back home for a bit to record a new record.
Why did you decide to start a band? Was this always a dream of yours?
It initially was a solo artist type of thing, and I just heard great music to help me make sense of my life. I started writing songs for fun as a junior in college. I got a great response, and people started encouraging me to play for others. On the way to making a solo career, I just happened to meet the rest of my band.
What was your first performance ever like?
Well, I actually sang at a school talent show when I was 8 years old in front of the entire school, parents and everything. The song I sang was an old spiritual song called, “Old Man River,” and it’s about the Mississippi River. I sang it in a deep voice and got a standing ovation – needless to say, I was thrilled.
When you write songs, how do you get into your creative mindset, and how do you narrow down which songs to put on your albums?You know, so many people think song writing is about this word "inspiration." For me, it’s a matter of work, sitting down with a guitar, notepad or laptop, and you just keep up with ideas and catalogue them. You throw away a song and keep a line. You just work at it, spend time at it, forcing yourself to sit down and be creative. As far as inspiration goes, you spend time with interesting people and do the things you love. It’s at that point that you quickly find things to say and comments based upon all the things you subject yourself to.
Do you guys know Judah and the Lions very well? How did you guys come to perform together?
We’re good friends with Judah and the Lions. We just loved their set when they first opened for us once back in the day. We really enjoy their company, and I love performing with a band that is really, really good. Having an outstanding opening band keeps the spirit of the night, making for an excellent all around concert. I’m excited to have them on the show with us at the Georgia Theatre.
Is anyone in your band a Bulldogs fans?
Well, our bass player is from Georgia, so I would say he is. However, he doesn’t really follow the whole SEC football type of thing.
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Health and Wellness
5 Ways To Bring Positivity Into Your Life When All You Want To Do Is Drown In Self-Pity
It seems like life has been serving up more bad than good and in all honesty, the only thing you want to do is crawl under your covers and hide from the rest of the world.
20h
1298
Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash
The first two weeks of classes have come to an end and they have been anything BUT easy. It seems like life has been serving up more bad than good and in all honesty, the only thing you want to do is crawl under your covers and hide from the rest of the world.
Although this seems like the best solution, it is also the easy way out. Take it from the girl who took basically a whole week off from her life because she just could not handle everything that was being thrown at her. This caused her to feel extremely lonely and even more stressed out for being behind in classes that JUST began.
Throughout the week, numerous things were made clear to me that I knew in the back of my head but needed either reassurance or a better understanding of. Here is a list of things to remember when life seems to be weighing you down more than you can handle.
1. There are people who love you and want to be there for you.
I am lucky enough to have a great circle of friends and an amazing and supportive boyfriend. They are always there for me but it is time when I am struggling with anxiety that I see it the most. They continue to remind me of God's love even when I cannot see it at the time and to let me know that in the end, they are always there.
2. It is OKAY to need alone time.
Personally, I am an introvert who loves her alone time. Whether that be in my room with some candles on while reading a great book or going watching a movie by myself, I crave that alone time. Explain to your loved one that if it is best for you specifically, some space could greatly benefit you when you are feeling anxious.
3. The outcome of the issue that you are stressing over probably is not as bad as you are imagining.
This is something that someone dear to me continued to remind me of this week. I was stressing over something that 1. was unavoidable and 2. was something that would require some hard work to catch up in. I was reminded that even though I may constantly be thinking worst case scenario does not mean that will happen (and he was 100% right).
4. Just because you are feeling unmotivated does not mean you should give up.
As a writer, I go through stages of writer's block. I feel like all my ideas are "already done" or "not original." The same thing can happen in a class when I am not understanding a concept. It is crucial to remember that during these times just because something may seem "overdone" or "hard to understand" does not mean that it is. I sat down with my computer last night and out of nowhere realized articles may sound similar but these are MY opinions and thoughts. That has never been heard. Classes with hard concepts? I learned that sometimes you just have to out that extra time in and really give it everything you have.
5. God is there, even when you do not feel like He is.
This is something that I definitely have been struggling with. I am going through so much, where is God to help me? He is there when you are crying your heart out. He is there when you feel that push that you need to pray because there is nothing else to do. He is there through the friends who are filling you with love and encouragement. He is always there.
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1. Thank you for being my person.
2. Thank you for knowing me better than I know myself sometimes.
3. Thank you for always encouraging me and rooting for me in all aspects of life.
4. Thank you for knowing how to have fun.
5. Thank you for being my partner in crime and never letting me make stupid decisions alone.
6. Thank you for understanding when I’m not fine, even though I say I am.
7. Thank you for eating junk food with me even when we are supposed to be “dieting.”
8. Thank you for being the shoulder that I need to cry on and the laughter that I need after.
9. Thank you for being there during my first heartbreak and never saying, “I told you so,” even though you could have one hundred times.
10. Thank you for supporting me and never judging.
11. Thank you for the long talks and always assuring me that our bond could never be broken, even when we are miles away from each other at school.
12. Thank you for always knowing what to say when I'm sad.
13. Thank you for reminding me to be the best version of myself and never doubting me.
14. Thank you for the endless memories and being my best friend.
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Entertainment
11 Things We Learned From Brooke Davis
"What's more important? What we become or how we become it?"
06 January
690
"She was fiercely independent, Brooke Davis. Brilliant, and beautiful, and brave. In two years she had grown more than anyone I had ever known. Brooke Davis is going to change the world someday, and I'm not sure she even knows it." - Lucas Scott, An Unkindness of Ravens
Brooke Davis of the hit show One Tree Hill was the it girl - she had it all, or so we thought. She started out as a stuck-up, shallow, spoiled, head cheerleader who didn't have her life together. She slept around a lot and loved to party - sounds like your typical high school teenager right? Wrong. B. Davis had so much more to offer. Caring, loyal, and outspoken, she has taught us some valuable lessons throughout the 9 seasons that OTH was on the air:
Stay True To Yourself
You are who you are, regardless of what that looks like to anyone else. Don't ever apologize or make excuses for being yourself. Be confident in all that you are, and don't let anyone tell you that you shouldn't be.
Society Is Full Of Double Standards
Brooke had no problem pointing out the many double standards that exist for women in today's society. Although she acknowledged that this was an ever-present aspect of society, she refused to accept it or let anyone disrespect or demean her in any situation.
You Can Always Get Through The Hard Times
Brooke survived many obstacles. From getting her heart broken, to overcoming abuse from a robbery, to escaping a man who wanted to harm her, she never let any situation crush her spirit. Each experience made her stronger. She learned that life is never easy, and that it's not supposed to be. She taught us that there is a lesson to be learned from every hardship, and that we are always tougher than we think we are. This is a trait that her friends admired, especially when they were going through some hard times themselves and had to turn to Brooke to remind them that everything would be okay.
Don't Be Afraid To Fall In Love
For as much heartbreak and dissapointment that she had to face throughout the show, Brooke never wavered in her beliefs about love. She might have gotten discouraged for a little while, but she always had faith that love is something that is extremely rare and is worth every minute of hardship. She never gave up, no matter how many times she was dissapointed, and in the end it all prepared her for the day she met the love of her life. This should serve as a reminder that just because you haven't found "the one" for you yet doesn't mean that you never will.
People Will Label You
One of the lessons that Brooke learned throughout high school was that being labeled in today's society was inevitable and that this is something that we have to be conscious of. She doesn't accept this, however. Rather, she teaches us that we do not have to be defined by our labels and that we can be whoever we want to be. This was an important lesson that she learned because it taught her confidence and to have a sense of self worth. It showed her that you can be anything, and that you are not defined by someone's opinion of you.
Don't Settle For Less Than You Deserve
Although Brooke didn't always get what she wanted in every situation, she kept her standards high and never settled. Whether this came to friends, guys or family, she always knew what she deserved and refused to let anyone treat her any less. She also extended this to the people around her when she was giving advice. This is an important lesson to take charge of your life and to know your worth; these were all characteristics that made her so strong and bold.
People Can Change
At the beginning, Brooke got off to a rough start. She lost herself and was constantly making the wrong decisions, but as the seasons went on, her character transformation was one of the most amazing of all the characters. She went from a stuck up, self-centered mean girl to a respectable, hard working, loving friend, daughter and mother. She is proof that it is never to late to be who you want to be and that we are always capable of change.
Stay Loyal To Your Friends
One of Brooke's greatest attributes is her loyalty to her friends. No matter what they go through or what obstacles they face, at the end of the day she is always forgiving and will always come to their defense in any situation. This is such an admirable quality because it shows that if you truly care about the people in your life, you will always be there for them. Moreover, this is an important lesson to learn because we all make mistakes, and we all want people to love us and forgive us when that time comes.
Beauty Doesn't Have A Size
Brooke made a powerful statement at a fashion show for her company, "Clothes Over Bros" in a later season. She didn't want her models to feel pressured to fit the stereotype of what society says they should be. This is an extremely important lesson, especially for girls in this day and age. Brooke believed that we shouldn't be defined by our size or our looks. She wanted all women not to believe that if you're not the size of the women on the magazines, then you shouldn't be happy. Being healthy and having a sense of self-worth is most important. Beauty is not a size, and no one should ever feel pressured to be anything other than what they are!
Wait For The Guy
One thing that stayed constant throughout the series is that Brooke is a hopeless romantic. As much as she got her heart broken (Ahem, Lucas Scott), she never let her faith waver that one day she would find a guy that would treat her the way she deserved to be treated - and she was right. It may have taken a few years, but her Prince Charming came along and swept her off her feet. Brooke and Julian should serve as a lesson to every girl that just because you haven't found the guy for you doesn't mean you never will, nor should you ever settle for less than you deserve.
Believe In Yourself, Even When Nobody Else Does
Brooke faced many trials and tribulations when it came to her clothing company, and when she was feeling discouraged, her mother was no help. She doubted, ridiculed and demeaned Brooke. But yet, she still couldn't break her spirit or her will to succeed. This determination was just another thing that made her who she was. It didn't matter if nobody else had faith in her because she believed in herself and and she knew what she brought to the table - and for her, that was more than enough. And it was - she persevered and showed everyone what she was made of. This should serve as a lesson to never give up and that if you want something bad enough, you can achieve it.
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Relationships
11 Signs You Have An Honorary Roommate
Make yourself at home, why don't you?
05 January
2606
Rachel Zadeits
For some of us, coming to college was the first time we ever had to share a room. It was a big change, but a fun one. As you meet more and more people over the course of your college career, it seems to be a pattern that you will at some point have that one friend that doesn't live with you, but acts like they do. We call those people, "Honorary Roommates" and here are 11 signs you have one in your life.
You come home and they're already in your room.
Your door wasn't open. You've been gone all day. Nice to see you too, I guess.
They help themselves to all your food.
That leftover pizza you thought was in you fridge has somehow magically disappeared.
Your clothes are their clothes.
"I'm borrowing this."
They've requested their own space in your closet.
Of course, because college has ample space for everyone.
People are shocked when they find out you're not roommates.
Wait, does she even live in this building?
They've added their name to your door.
Squad goals, am I right?
Sometimes they sleep in your bed even though they have their own.
Note to self: twin dorm beds are not ideal for sleepovers.
They never knock.
Yeah, go ahead, come on in.
They leave their miscellaneous items all over your room while you and your actual roommate wonder who's stuff it is...
Some of the Schmidt's jar.
byu/Amanbbi inNewGirl
"Is this yours?" "No..."
Sometimes they follow you into the bathroom while you shower so they can talk to you.
The more the merrier, right?
No matter how much they're in your space, you wouldn't have it any other way.
To my honorary roommate, I wouldn't trade you for the world. You're always welcome to eat my food, wear my clothes, and even talk to me while I shower.
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Relationships
10 Reasons Why It's Awesome When Your Best Friend Gets New Friends
She may not be with you 24/7 but it's all good because you're soul sisters.
05 January
2525
Gabi Morales
We all have a person, and when that person makes some new friends, we tend to forget all the great things that can come out of it. Never forget how special they are to you and why you are best friends.
You get to see how your best friend acts around other people.
You know her like the back of your hand, but it's always super fun to see how she fits into another group.
You'll feel like a proud mom.
When you see how she fits in so well with her new friends, you will feel like you had some hand in it by helping her become such a great friend. Let's be real: you probably had nothing to do with it because she's awesome and anyone is lucky to be her friend. But nonetheless, you're proud of her for being a functioning human.
She'll ask your opinion.
Not that it really matters, but you'll love them because you love her.
She'll send snaps of you to them.
When she's not with them she's with you, and you do stupid things sometimes. Of course she will catch those stupid things on camera. They will look at whatever you're doing and question your sanity, but it's fine.
Your social calendar will become a little more crowded.
They know y'all do everything together, so when they make plans they will make sure you're in the loop.
You get to see her genuinely happy.
When she's happy and living well, you'll be happy for her.
The time y'all spend together will be even more special.
Since you aren't together every waking moment of every day anymore, the time you get to spend with her will feel so much more special.
She'll always have a story to tell you.
She'll come back from something and want to tell you all about it. That's when you sit there and listen like the good friend that you are.
You know she will always love you.
No matter how busy she gets with her new friends she will never forget about you. She will still come to you about anything and you will still be the dynamic duo. There's nothing that will change the friendship you have because you found your soul sister, and soul sisters never lose touch.
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